For me the New Year kicks off in September. There’s something about the crisp autumn air and the start of the school year that smells fresh to me. Don’t get me wrong — I still enjoy the blank-page feel of January First, too. It makes us start thinking about how to do better, how to step in a different direction, how to use this incredible gift of 12 unwrinkled months wisely. We don’t want to repeat our old mistakes. And so we make resolutions. We pull together promises and lay out intentions to eat more kale, learn Italian, run a marathon, travel to Japan, and generally live our best lives.
But we all live in the real world together. We know that it’s easy to slip back into not-so-great habits. And sometimes staring at a clean slate can be intimidating. Plus, so many of our resolutions are too grand and broad to begin with, they’re almost set-ups for disappointment. This pressure to radically improve your life starting immediately on January 1st is what led me to do away with the usual resolutions many years ago. Now I start small, get specific, and focus on things that are actually doable. It’s with those small things, those small wins, that I might open the doors to some of the loftier goals on the list.
For instance, some of my recent resolutions have been things like:
- listen more and interrupt less
- sip my everyday drinks from charming tea cups and fancy glasses
- use the first five minutes upon opening my eyes in the A.M. to give thanks for the morning light (corny, but it works — sets my mood for the day)
I also use this time of year to look back at what was, at what my lens captured, with the hope of gaining some insight into what might be. Taking a look back through 2012, I came across some sweet, little moments with my son and husband…
…as well as several “I’m-actually-doing-this-yessss!” times with my sisters!
This is not a call to end all traditional resolution-making. Quite the opposite. Turning your eye towards what’s ahead with focus and intent is always a good thing. If it moves you closer to happiness and abundance and striving for better, then do it. Resolve away! Just leave room to adjust your lens as needed.
Here’s wishing you all a Happy and Healthy New Year.
Nicole Blades is a writer, journalist, storyteller, and ever-learning photographer. She’s also mother to perhaps the most delightful little boy on this spinning globe. You can read her parenting blog, Ms. Mary Mack or follower her on Twitter @NicoleBlades, Instagram, and Flickr.
Let us know if you’re interested in joining us as a Guest Muse by sending us an email to mortalmuses9@gmail.com.
Thank you Nicole for sharing. Your thoughts resonate with me a lot – I’ve found too often that my January resolutions don’t stay meaningful throughout the whole year, so I start my 365 on 1 October and treasure the possibilities of every new beginning coming my way during the year.
Jenny, so glad this resonated with you. The clamor to get All New, All Improved right at the start of the calendar year is often more hinder than helpful. By the end of February, we’ve run out of steam and excitement over these resolutions. I like the idea of starting a 365 in the fall. That way you roll right through the New Year without a beat or blink.
Great post. Such beautiful images!
Thank you, Staci!
Love the philosophy and thanks for sharing your gorgeous images with us!
Thanks, Debra. It was such an honor, being a guest on this wonderful site. It’s my first photo guest post! Thanks to the Mortal Muses and Holly.
Beautiful images Nicole! I love your way of looking at resolutions. It’s so easy to burn out by going too big too fast. I keep telling myself “one thing every day” towards my goals and that’s all that matters. Thank you so much for musing with us!
Holly! You know how excited I am to be among you fab photogs. Thank you for inviting me to be a guest.
And, yes, one thing every day is wise. The small wins are still very much wins, yes? 🙂
Totally agree, Nicole! This is a great perspective and one that I’m taking to heart this year.
Beautiful images and love the “us-only” trip you take with your sisters — what a great idea! 🙂
Thanks, Sarah. The Sisters Trip is indeed a great idea. We’re a close crew, but we live far apart. It makes the time we spend on the trip so special. We look forward to it all year.
Nicole, what wonderful words! And your images are beautiful too. Yes, this totally resonated for me. Thank you.
Ah, kirstin. You’re very kind. Thank you.
Oh I just love your first-five-minutes idea. I must try and do that — instead if immediately reaching for my phone to check my email! And you are so lucky to have an annual sisters trip. I so wish my sisters and I could rally – and organize – to do that too. Thx for sharing!!
Oh, I’m there with you on the phone-reach, Mae. Awful. I’ve tried to do the “leaving the phone in the kitchen at night” thing. It worked for a bit, but then I got an iPad Mini for Christmas… I mean, come on! How’s a gal supposed to leave BOTH iFun pieces in the kitchen?? 🙂
So I do my five minutes of gratitude and then… reeeeaaach. Ha.
Wow Nicole!!! Stunning images and wonderful words!!! I, too, feel like September is the beginning of the year and I must admit that I find January daunting (how about that weight issue, is what I see all around me, yuck!) But, this year, I have stepped back a bit and I am focusing on being really present with the word “peace.” I want to bring peace into my life, whether it means turning down that pastry or expecting myself to learn everything RIGHT NOW about photography!!! So thank you very much for this thoughtful piece and I especially loved the words “Just leave room to adjust your lens as needed.” So true!!!!
Linda, I’m so happy this post resonated with you. January can be really tough for many different reasons. I know a few people who say that the whole “new year, new you — right NOW!” part of it makes them quite anxious. There’s so much going on. I think peace and patience are excellent themes to focus on for this new year. Wishing you all the best with all of it.
Oh Mae! I reach for my phone first thing too (a smart phone is still a very new thing for me!). So that idea of stopping and enjoying the light rang for me too! I would be a much nicer way to begin the day.
And Nicole I too am a Sept-is-the-new-year girl. But this year I am looking at some over-arching themes for Jan. (ps — I’ve been reading your blog since running across you thru Holly. I’m a former Philly girl you see, miss my peeps!)
Wow! Thanks for reading the blog, amy. (And Holly is fantastic. All day.)
Yes, themes is a good way to approach January and the 11 months that follow. Good luck with yours!
I love the idea of being able to “adjust the lens” on my new year’s resolutions.
Thanks, anngeedee. It’s important, I think. We need to leave ourselves some room for change and adjustments. Eases some of the pressure we put on ourselves. (And, man, do we put high pressure on!)
Thanks for musing with us, Nicole. Love your photos and perspective.
This was so much fun! Thanks, Meghan.
An absolutely beautiful post Nicole. Thank you for joining us here! i really loved this…”use the first five minutes upon opening my eyes in the A.M. to give thanks for the morning light”–great advice, and not corny at all 🙂
Ha! Glad it doesn’t fit under the corny side of the page. 🙂
Thank you, urban muser.